Michael Brissenden presents AM Monday to Friday from 8:00am on ABC Local Radio and 7:10am on Radio National. Join Elizabeth Jackson for the Saturday edition at 8am on Local Radio and 7am on Radio National.

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Monday 7 May 2001

AM is Australia's most informative morning current affairs. It covers the stories each morning that the other current affairs teams follow for the rest of the day. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Australia asks for baby gene technology

A controversial new fertility treatment that's led to the birth of 30 babies in the United States has fuelled the already incendiary debate about tampering with human genetic material. With Australian couples already asking for the procedure, some bioethicists and politicians want the Australian government to act to ensure that it's not performed here.

Draft privacy rules to be released

Business groups are accusing the Federal Government of a heavy handed approach to privacy laws, with fears that new guidelines will impose only as compliance costs. Details of the draft privacy rules will be released today to gauge industry response to measures designed to limit unsolicited electronic marketing via mobile phones and email.

Independent picks up Qld by-election seat

The Liberals picked up 21 percent of the primary vote during a weekend by-election in the seat which fell to an independent after being held for 20 years by the National Party's former leader, Rob Borbidge. It was a humiliating defeat for the Nationals who suffered a 40 percent swing against them. But while the Liberals are rejoicing at their good fortune, their Queensland branch is still facing a Federal takeover.

US hard sells missile system

In the United States the Bush Administration has embarked on the hard-sell of its missile defence program, as Democrats raise fears that it could jeopardise global security. This morning Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, dismissed one concern that the anti-missile system will prod China to build up its nuclear arsenal. Any build up by Beijing, the Secretary says, will have nothing to do with US policy.

Fears of Macedonian civil war

Heavyweights from the international community fly into the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia today as the country teeters on the brink of all-out war. NATO Secretary General, George Robertson, and the EU's policy chief, Xavier Selana, will be among those hoping to break the all too familiar cycle of Balkan, ethnic violence.

Weekend soccer violence

There's been another bout of off field sporting violence, this time at a soccer match. And it's left league officials dismayed at another blow to the games reputation. Perth Glory players and staff were attacked by angry Knights fans after yesterday's nil all draw in Melbourne.

Last State of Origin at Lang Park

last night's rugby league State of Origin clash between New South Wale and Queensland has ended an era for a Queensland icon. This week workers start pulling down the Lang Park Cauldron to build a massive new sports arena. The Queensland Government says it'll be an improvement, but league fans are not so sure.

Federation descendents meet at Melbourne

A big week of celebrations marking the Centenary of Federation have kicked off in Melbourne. The weekend saw a colourful parade of floats through the streets of the city that housed Australia's first Parliament, with an impressive 300,000 turning out. But few will be more proud, during the celebrations, than the descendants of the country's first government ministry.

New round of West Bank fighting

Israel's Government says it won't stop building settlements on Palestinian land and the Palestinian Authority says restraining gunmen on its side is beyond its capacity. That's the initial response to the Mitchell Commission Report, an internationally-backed document on the causes of Israeli-Palestinian fighting which many had hoped would help ease months of deadly violence in the region.